Device to maintain constant tension on dual slice blade

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR SLICING ARTICLES, WHICH COMPRISES AN ENDLESS BANDSAW BLADE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID BANDSAW BLADE SO AS TO PRESENT TWO-SPACED PARALLEL PASSES FOR SLICING, SAID MOUNTING MEANS PLACING A PREDETERMINED TENSION IN THE BLADE, MEANS FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID TWO-SPACED PASSES, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE TENSION IN SAID BLADE CONSTANT WHEN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID BANDSAW BLADE PASSES ARE VARIED.

United States Patent Robert F. Meisoll;

Edgar L. Moss, Jr., Richmond, Va. 812,687

Apr. 2, 1969 June 28, 1971 inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented DEVICE TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT TENSION 0N DUAL SLICE BLADE 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl. sat/201.10, 83/201.11,83l201.14, 143/27 1nt.Cl B26d l/48, 826d 1/52 Field of Search s3/201.14,

201.08, 201.09, 201.10, 201.11 ;143/19,19.2, 27 Assignee American Machine 8: Foundry Company [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,377 1932 Rohwedder 83/201.1 2,173,038 1939 Hartman 83/201.09 2,185,835 1940 Criner 83/201.1

Primary Examinerwilliam S. Lawson Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan Attorneys-George W. Price and Barry H. F ishkin ABSTRACT: Apparatus for slicing articles, which comprises an endless bandsaw blade, means mounting said bandsaw blade so as to present two-spaced parallel passes for slicing, said mounting means placing a predetermined tension in the blade, means for varying the distance between said twospaced passes, and means for maintaining the tension in said blade constant when the distance between said bandsaw blade passes are varied.

PATENTfinJunzalsn 3587.379

sum 1 OF 2 FIG. I

ROBERT F. MEISOLL BY EDGAR L. MOSS,JR

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ATTORNEY PATENTEU JUN28|971 SHEET 2 OF 2 3.587379 FIG. 2

INVUN'IORS ROBERT F. MEISOLL EDGAR L. MOSS IIEl/ICII T MAINTAIN CONQTAN'I TENSION 0N DUAL EILICE MADE BACKGROUND This application relates to article slicing and more particularly to maintaining the tension on a bandsaw-slicing blade constant as the distance between the two passes of the blade is varied.

In the bakery industry there are a large number of instances where a baked product is required to be sliced. Most of these slicing operations are performed by one or more bandsaw blades. These blades are commonly endless in nature and are mounted over a plurality of drums in such fashion as to present two passes for slicing. In many instances it is desirous that the distance between adjacent passes of the bandsaw blade be readily adjustable. For one example, to bring two slicing passes, rather than one, to bear against one or a succession of baked goods.

In order for a bandsaw-type slicer to perform well in a slicing operation, a predetermined tension on the blade is necessary. In the past, when it was necessary to provide for an adjustable distance between passes it was necessary to utilize separate bandsaw blades and move the blades along their drums towards or away from each other since the movement of the two passes of a single blade toward or away from each other would result in either insufficient tension for a good slicing operation or a surplus of tension leading to blade breakage.

SUMMARY It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apparatus for varying the distance between the two passes of a bandsaw blade.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for maintaining the tension on a bandsaw blade constant as the two passes thereof are moved relative to one another.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an apparatus for slicing a baked article with either one or two slices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for adjusting the attitude of bandsaw blade mounting drums so as to provide a capability for moving the two passes of the bandsaw blade relative to one another.

In accordance with these and other objects apparatus ac cording to the invention may comprise an endless bandsaw blade, means mounting said bandsaw blade so as to present two-spaced parallel passes for slicing, said means placing a predetermined tension on the blade, means for varying the distances between said two-spaced passes and means for maintaining the tension in said blade constant when the distance between said bandsaw blade passes is varied.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation view of a portion of apparatus according to the invention showing two of the four bandsaw blade mounting drums.

FIG. 2 is a plan of the apparatus taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a view in closeup of a portion of the apparatus taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I.

FIG. AI is a front elevation view of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings apparatus according to the invention comprises an endless bandsaw blade I0 mounted across and between four drums, I2, Id, I6, and I6 respectively, as best shown in FIG. d. With this arrangement the two passes of the bandsaw blade I0 designated 20 and 22 respectively, are parallel to one another between drums I4 and I6. It is these two passes that are operable to slice objects advanced therepast.

Lil

The instant apparatus is generally used in conjunction with bun makeup and packaging machinery wherein a succession of buns to be sliced are advanced past the operable edge of the lower pass of the bandsaw blade by a conveyor assembly 2Al. However, it is to be understood that while this description is being made in connection with the slicing of buns, the invention is not limited thereto but can be used in any application where a bandsaw blade is utilized to slice articles.

The blade I0 and the four mounting drums are spaced such that the lower pass 22 of the blade will slice a bun being advanced therepast by the conveyor assembly the buns passing underneath the upper pass 20 of the bandsaw blade resulting in a single slice being placed in the bun.

There is also usage for apparatus that is operable to provide a double slice, i.e. that cuts a bun into three layers. This can be done by utilizing both passes of a single bandsaw blade rather than just one. And, the industry has been seeking an effective slicing apparatus that is adjustable to provide either a single or a double slice.

With reference to FIGS. I and d, two slices can be placed in a bun if the upper pass 20 of the bandsaw blade can be lowered into the path of buns being advanced past the bandsaw blade by conveyor assembly 24, as shown in phantom in FIG. d. This may be affected by lowering drums Id and I6, thus moving bandsaw blade pass 20 towards pass 22. It is apparent, however, that if no other steps are taken this will place a large amount of additional tension on bandsaw blade 10 and make it readily susceptible to breakage.

Referring now in particular to FIG. I, to adjust the position of upper pass 20 with respect to lower pass 22 in order to either bring it into its lower slicing position or raise it to its upper inactive position, drum M includes a mounting block 26 mounted for slideable movement in a pair of opposed brackets 22 and 30. Block 26 and, therefore, drum Id is adjustable vertically by a shaft 32 having a threaded end M that is mounted in a threaded bore 36 tapped in the center of block 26. Thus, when the shaft 32 is rotated, it is operable to move block 26 either up or down depending upon the direction of rotation. Shaft 32 in turn is rotated by means of a sprocket 38 mounted on the upper end thereof and a chain d0 mounted over sprocket 38.

Chain so also is mounted over a sprocket (FIG. a) mounted on a shaft corresponding to a shaft 32 that is provided in conjunction with drum I6. A handle 42 is: provided at the end of the first-named shah 32 and drums I4 and I6 are raiseable and lowerable in unison by manipulation of the handle 42, maintaining upper pass 20 parallel to lower pass 22 as it is adjusted with respect thereto. However, it is apparent that absent any compensating features, the raising and lowering of drums M and I6 would either break the blade in the case of lowering the drums, or render it too slack for cutting in the case of raising the drums.

To maintain the tension on blade I0 constant as the distance between the upper and lower passes thereof is varied, a tension compensator combination M is provided in association with drums I2 and 1s to compensate for movement of vertical drums lid and I6 and thus maintain the tension on blade It) constant. Drum I2 includes a block so mounted thereon, which block is mounted for movement in opposed brackets db and 50.

Tension compensating combination M includes a chain 52 connected to the lower end of block 26 as shown in FIG. I. Chain $6 is passed around idler sprockets 54 and 56 and connected to an adjustable length connecting rod 52.

A first pivotal member 60 is pivotally mounted at 62 adjacent drum M and connected at M to the upper end of connecting rod 52. The other end of pivotal member 60) includes a mounting means 66 for receiving one end of a spring 6d. The other end of spring as is connected to a mounting member 70 mounted in turn to a second pivotal member 72 pivotally mounted at M adjacent to drum I2. A chain 76 is mounted at one end thereof to mounting means 72. Chain 76 is passed around an idler sprocket 7b and connected to one end of mounting block 46.

ln operation, when drums M and B6 are lowered by manipulation of handle 42 to place upper pass 20 in slicing position, the lowering of drum id simultaneously places additional tension in blade it), which tension exerts a pulling force on drum l2, and lets out chain 2.

This combination of actions from the lowering of drums i4 and 16 pulls drum E2 to the right along brackets 4S and 50 an amount required to compensate for the vertical movement of drums M and to, with pivotal members as and 72 pivoting in a counterclockwise direction and chain '76 being pulled around sprocket 78 by block es. The opposite movements take place when drums M and to are raised.

The relationship between the distance of the movement of drum l2 and drum M depends on the change in length of combination 44, which is due to the change in length of spring 68 to compensate for the changing in the wrap of upper pass 20 around runs 143 and 16 as the latter is lowered or raised. For example, when drums l4 and 16 are lowered, the spring is shortened to take tension out of combination to compensate for added tension imposed on blade 10 by the lowering of the drums H4 and H6. The opposite occurs when drums M and 16 are raised. Spring 68 also takes up transient forces placed in the blade when handle 32 is first turned. The level of tension of blade 10 can be controlled by adjusting the length of connecting rod 5%.

Having now fully set forth both structure and operation of a preferred embodiment of the concept underlying the present invention, it may be that various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. All such embodiments, variations, and modifications as incorporate the spirit of the invention and depend upon its underlying concept are consequently to be considered as within the scope of the claims appended herebelow, unless the claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

We claim:

R. Apparatus for slicing articles, which comprises:

an endless bandsaw blade,

means mounting said bandsaw blade so as to present twospaced parallel passes for slicing, said mounting means placing a predetermined tension in the blade,

means for varying the distance between said two-spaced passes,

means for maintaining the tension in said blade constant when the distance between said bandsaw blade passes are varied,

said mounting means including four movable drums arranged such that said blade passes around two of said drums and contacts the other two of said drums to form said two parallel-spaced passes, and

said means for varying the spacing between the two-spaced passes including means for moving two of the drums.

2. Apparatus for slicing articles comprising:

an endless bandsaw blade,

means mounting said bandsaw blade so as to present twospaced parallel passes for slicing, said mounting means placing a predetermined tension in the blade,

means for varying the distance between said two-spaced passes,

means for maintaining the tension in said blade constant when the distance between said bandsaw blade passes are varied,

said mounting means comprising four drums arranged such that said blade passes around two of said drums forming said two parallel-spaced passes and the other two of said drums engage the upper pass of said blade, and

said means for varying the spacing between the two-spaced passes comprises means for vertically moving said drums engaging said upper pass of said blade.

3. Apparatus for slicing articles according to claim 2,

wherein:

said means for maintaining the tension in said blade constant includes means interconnecting one of said drums engaging said upper pass of said blade and one of said drums forming the two parallel-spaced passes. Apparatus for slicing articles according to claim 3, wherein:

said means interconnecting the drums includes a spring which adjusts the position of one drum with respect to the other when said other drum is moved to vary the distance between said passes of said blade. 5. Apparatus for slicing articles according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for maintaining the tension in said blade constant includes means interconnecting one of said drums contacting said blade and one of said drums which said blade passes around. 6. Apparatus for slicing articles according to claim 5, wherein:

said means interconnecting the drums includes a spring which adjusts the position of one drum with respect to the other when said other drum is moved to vary the distance between said passes of said blade. 

